Ski attachment



June 22, 1943. w N 2,322,497

SKI ATTACHMENT Filed Ju'ne 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l luzwltm' PatentedJune 22, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs SKI ATTACHMENT Fred Weinaug,Sheb oygan, Wis, Application June 4, 1942 Serial No. 445,777

3 Claims. (Cl. 280- -11,.13)

The present invention'relates generally to new and useful improvementsin skis, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, an attachment comprising a novel construction andarrangement for increasing traction and preventing slipping in anydirection.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a tractionand anti-slipping attachment of the aforementioned character which maybe applied to a conventional ski without the necessity of makingmaterial structural alterations therein.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a skiattachment of the character described which may be expeditiously mountedon the ski and removed therefrom.

Otherobjects of the invention are to provide a ski attachment of thecharacter set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction,strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, light inweight, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a ski equipped with anattachment constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figue 3 is a bottom plan view of removable portion of the device.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section, showingthe means for securing the forward end of the traction device to theski.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises ametallic traction unit which is designated generally by referencenumeral I. The traction unit I is adapted to be removably mountedbeneath a conventional ski 2 in spaced relation to the ends thereof. Asillustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings, the unit Iincludes an intermediate section 3 having hingedly connected theretocomparatively long front and rear sections 4 and 5, respectively.

The intermediate section 3 comprises a pair of longitudinal metallicside bars 6 having fixed therebetween a traction member or cleat in theform of a frame I. The end portions of the side bars 6 are provided, intheir upper portions, with notches or recesses 8, the purpose of whichwill be presently set forth. The upper portions of the side bars 6receive the ski 2 therebetween.

The sections 4 and 5 include longitudinal side bars 9 which also receivebetween the r upper portions the ski 2. Flanges ID on the inner faces ofthe bars 9 are engageable beneath the ski 2. The bars 9 are pivotallyconnected at their inner ends, as at I l, to the end portions of thebars 5.

The bars 9 terminate, at their outer ends, in upwardly and reverselycurved'hooks l2, the purpose of which will also be presently set forth.Metallic traction members in the form of skeleton frames l3 are fixedbetween the bars 9 below the flanges Ill. The members l3 are pivotallyconnected at their inner ends, as at hi, to the ends of member 1. Thepivots H and M are aligned, whereby the sections 4 and 5 may swing onthe intermediate section 3. Flanges l5 are struck outwardly from theinner end portions of the bars 9. The flanges l5 are engageable on theadjacent end portions of the bars 6 for positively preventing thesections 4 and 5 from being swung upwardly beyond a position inlongitudinal alignment with the intermediate section 4. The recesses ornotches 8 in the bars 6 accommodate the stop members 15.

A substantially U-shaped bracket is is mounted on the rear portion ofthe ski 2. Screws H secure the bracket I6 in position. The bracket I6 isfurther provided with depending teeth or prongs l8 which are embedded inthe ski 2. A rod I9 i mounted transversely on the bracket l6, said rodincluding headed ends 2!] which project beyond the longitudinal edges ofthe ski 2. The end portions of the rod l9 are engageable in the hooks l2of the section 5 for detachably securing the rear end of the unit l inposition beneath the ski 2.

A substantially U-shaped bracket 2! is mounted on the forward portion ofthe ski 2 and secured in position by means including screws 22. Thebracket 2| is also provided with teeth or prongs 23 which are embeddedin the ski 2. The upstanding fianges or side walls 24 of the bracket 2|have formed therein longitudinal slots 25. A substantially Y-shapedlever 26 is mounted for compound movement on the bracket 2| through themedium of links 21. The links 21, it will be noted, have one endpivotally connected to the flanges 24 of the bracket 2i and their otherends pivotally connected to the free end portions of the arms 28 of thelever 26. A rod 29, similar to the rod I9, extends between the free endportions of the lever arms 28 forwardly of the links 21, said rod 29being operable in the slots 25 and having its headed ends projectingbeyond the longitudinal sides of the ski 2. The end portions of the rod29 are engageable in the hooks I2 of the section 4 for tightening theunit I beneath the ski 2 and for detachably seeming the forward end ofsaid unit to said ski. A plate 30 is fixed on the free end portion ofthe lever 26 to facilitate actu-, ating said lever. A resilient clip 3|on the ski 2 releasably secures the lever 26 in lowered position.

It is thought that the manner in which the device functions will bereadily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, theunit I is laid out flat on a suitable support and the ski 2 is placedlongitudinally thereon between the upper portions of the pairs of bars 6and 9. The rod I9 is engaged in the hooks I2 of the rear section 5. Thelever 26 is then swung downwardly past dead center on the ski 2 in amanner to move the rod 29 forwardly into engagement with the hooks I2 ofthe front section 4. Thus, the unit I is held taut beneath the ski andthe forward end of said unit is firmly but detachably connected to saidski. Of course, to remove the device, the foregoing operation issubstantially reversed. When not in use, the unit I may be convenientlyfolded and carried over the shoulder.

It is believed. that the many advantages of a ski attachment constructedin accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, andalthough a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is: 1. A ski attachment of the character describedcomprising an elongated traction unit engageable longitudinally beneatha ski, said unit comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections,upwardly and reversely curved hooks on the outer ends of the outersections, a transverse rod on the ski engageable with the hooks on onend of the unit, a lever mounted for swinging movement on the ski, and arod on said lever engageable with the hooks on the other end of theunit, said rods constituting means for detachably securing the unit inposition beneath the ski.

, 2. A ski attachment of the character described comprising an elongatedtraction unit adapted to be mounted longitudinally beneath a ski, c0-acting means on one end of the unit and the ski for detachably securingsaid one end of said unit to said ski, hooks on the other end of theunit, a bracket mounted on the ski and including upstanding flangeshaving longitudinal slots therein, links pivotally mounted on saidflanges, a substantially Y-shaped lever pivotally mounted on said links,and a transverse rod mounted on the lever and operable in the slots,said rod being engageable in the hooks for releasably securing saidother end of the traction unit to the ski.

3. A ski'attachment of the character described comprising a tractionunit adapted to be mounted beneath a ski, said unit including aplurality of hingedly connected sections, said sections comprisingpivotally connected side bars and further comprising pivotally connectedtraction members between the side bars, said unit still furtherincluding inwardly extending flanges on certain of the side barsengageable beneath the ski, and means for detachably securing the endsof the unit to the ski. V

. FRED WEINAUG.

